MARGAO
Strongly batting for the electric-powered buses despite causing a drain on the exchequer, General Manager of KTC Sanjay Ghate on Monday said the government is planning to procure around 500 electric buses with decentralized charging stations at the village level.
He said the KTC has developed the software by fitting the electric and conventional buses with GPS and panic button for the benefit of women commuters in times of emergency.
Saying that Goa would receive 100 additional electric buses in June, Ghate said the KTC would not effect any hike in the bus fare, saying the vehicles are meant for the poor and the middle-class commuters.
“Introduction of electric buses is a five-year project. We already have around 50 buses and another 100 buses will join the fleet by June 21. We have decided to decentralize charging stations so that the buses can undergo charging in the villages during the night time”, he said, while addressing the media after KTC Chairman MLA Ulhas Tuemkar launched the KTC Mandopa to Margao bus service on the occasion of the MLA’s birthday on Monday.
He said the KTC has already developed the app with the panic button for the benefit of women and senior citizens commuters, but the integration of the app is pending with the police department.
Defending the losses sustained by the KTC in running the bus service, Ghate said the KTC is more into public service than making profits. “We run a bus on the Chorla-Surla route by carrying a lone passenger covering a distance of 27 kilometres. There are certain routes which are not profitable, but we have been able to provide public transport to the inaccessible areas”, he added.
Saying the KTC will not go in for a hike in tariff, Ghate reminded that high-class people do not travel in public buses, adding that a tariff hike will force the poor and the middle-class commuters to abandon public transport.
“In developed countries, the metro and bus service is free. We have to provide good service to the people”, he stressed.
Navelim MLA Tuemkar told the media that the Margao-Mandopa bus service will go a long way in benefiting the people, especially the school children, and urged the people to avail the benefit.
